Tet

Lunar new year is the biggest festival in Vietnam. Locally it is called Tet, short for Tet Nguyen Dan. This year it was on 10th Feb, holidays extend from 8th till 18th. The festivities are comparable to Diwali in India. Markets get decked up, frantic buying happens. Entire population it seems comes on the road on their two wheelers, zipping in all directions. If you want to see a kamikaze in action, this is the place and time! Folks on two wheelers driving on the wrong side of the road, not even on the sides, but middle of the road, ploughing right into the incoming traffic!

Pictures of Old Quarter streets. I found shops laden with different kind of lamps and shinny decorative material.

One site, that you probably wont see anywhere, people transport fully grown Marumi Kumquat trees, laden with fruit, on their bikes! Huge pots are tied to back seat of the bikes that zig-zag their way thru' heavy traffic, that seems to come from all directions at you! Another tree that people buy, for prosperity and happiness during Tet is Peach Flower.

The one below is Marumi Kumquat. In the background, you can probably see a barber. There are a plenty "Barber under a Neem Tree" in Vietnam.

The bushes with pink flowers are the Peach Flower trees.

Government agencies beautify the gardens and roads with flower beds and decorative lights. Hoan Kiem Lake, near Old Quarters, in Ha Noi, is a popular tourist attraction place. The garden along the lakeside is beautiful. Tons of people descend on the garden and click their way to happiness and joy!

Happy New Year!